Ancient mosaic discovered with Bible verse that ‘blesses all who read it’

Archaeologists have discovered a 1,500-year-old monastery with an intricate mosaic floor bearing a Bible verse that blesses all who read it.

“Blessed are you when you come in and blessed are you when you go out,” reads the verse in ancient Greek located in the center of the intricately designed floor.

The discovery was made near the Israeli town of Kiryat Gat, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Monday, describing it as one of the largest and most important sites discovered in the area from that period.

The monastery dates from the fifth to sixth centuries AD, during the rule of the Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire.

Those years saw the spread of Christianity and the construction of important religious sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

The newly discovered monastery is located in an ancient settlement that was founded during the previous Roman period, but survived for about 600 years until the end of the Byzantine period.

“This is the largest and most important site from the Roman and Byzantine periods discovered in this area,” said excavation leaders Shira Lifshitz and Maayan Margulis.

The excavation also revealed remains of at least ten buildings, a wine press and a large warehouse.

The ‘blessing’ was a floor for an old building

But the monastery is especially important because the mosaic floor is a unique discovery.

“The mosaic discovered at Kiryat Gat is one of the most unique ever found in Israel,” Mark Avrahami, head of artistic conservation at the IAA, said in the statement.

What makes this mosaic so unusual is the integration of very small stones into the geometric pattern, which, according to the researchers, served to emphasize the cross-shaped decorations.

In addition to the Bible verse, crosses, lions, doves, an amphora (a ceramic ship’s jar), flowers and geometric patterns can be seen on the floor.

“Transferring mosaics is a complex process that requires great skill and precision,” Avrahami said, but the floor will soon be moved to the IAA mosaic workshop for conservation before being put on public display in the city of Kiryat Gat.

The excavation also revealed a “large quantity” of artefacts from the monastery and surrounding site, including imported wares, coins, marble elements and metal and glass vessels, “all testifying to the rich and important community living here”, shared the researchers.

The settlement is located at a central intersection connecting the mountain region with the coastal plain, and apparently served the area’s smaller settlements as well as passing travelers.

“The findings indicate a sequence of settlements from the early Roman period (1st century CE) to the end of the Byzantine period (late 6th century CE),” the team said.

Researchers said the mosaic is one of the most unique of its kind found in the region

What makes this mosaic so unusual is the integration of very small stones into the geometric pattern, which served to emphasize the cross-shaped decorations, the researchers said.

The settlement is located at a central crossroads connecting the mountain region with the coastal plain, and apparently served the smaller settlements and passing travelers in the area.

The Byzantine Empire ruled from 330 to 1453 CE. His rule began when Emperor Constantine divided the Roman Empire into western and eastern halves.

The eastern half remained the dominant power in ancient Europe through the remainder of Late Antiquity and even during parts of the Middle Ages, eventually becoming known as the Byzantine Empire.

The capital, Constantinople, was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, marking the end of the empire’s reign of more than 1,000 years.

Although the recently excavated settlement was still active during the Byzantine period, it expanded significantly, the researchers concluded.

This growth included the construction of the monastery and the wine press.

The researchers also discovered a “highly sophisticated” wine press, which produced wine that was sent across the country and across the Mediterranean.

Like the monastery, the wine press also has a mosaic floor in the fermentation rooms and the collection vessel, made of blue and white stones

The researchers also discovered numerous artefacts from the site, including ‘good quality toys showing status’

Like the monastery, the wine press also has a mosaic floor in the fermentation rooms and the collection vessel, made of blue and white stones.

The researchers described this wine press as “highly sophisticated,” adding that its construction and development likely involved “significant financial resources, time and a range of professional work and effort.”

It produced wine that was sent both across the country and across the Mediterranean, they said.

The dig also uncovered ample evidence of local pottery production, such as waste left behind by a ceramics factory, waste pits, discarded vessels that had been deformed during production, and even a number of vessels ‘unique to this site’.

“The discovery of the site highlights the historical richness of Kiryat Gat and its surroundings, shedding light on the region’s central location in ancient times,” said Svetlana Talis, director of the Southern Region at the Israel Antiquities Authority.